Mark Scott to head NSW Education Dept

Mark Scott, the former managing director of the ABC, has been appointed as head of the NSW Department of Education, the state government has announced.

"Mark's appointment takes our reinvigoration of the senior executive of the NSW public service a step further," Premier Mike Baird said in a statement on Thursday.

"Along with promoting outstanding young talent from within the service, we have sought out the best and brightest from the corporate world," Mr Baird said.

Mr Scott was as a teacher at St Andrew's Cathedral School in the 1980s and held senior roles for two NSW Education Ministers before his 10-year stint as boss at the ABC.

"On leaving the ABC, I was asked what I planned to do next. I can think of no more important opportunity than working alongside the teachers of NSW and the staff of the department to improve teaching and learning in our schools," Mr Scott said.

"He comes into this important field with a record of achievement and innovation at the ABC, in a changing and sometimes unpredictable global environment," CECNSW Executive Director Brian Croke said in a statement on Thursday.